My dog has a red, irritated, growing skin bump. What's wrong?

I'm glad to hear that by and large Roxy isn't bothered by this bump. It's possible that this bump could be due to a benign mass (histiocytomas are fairly common in young dogs), a malignant mass (although this would be far less likely given Roxy's young age), an abscess, granuloma, or other infectious issue. Regardless, it would be best to take Roxy to her vet for an exam to have this lesion checked out. Your vet will likely recommend some diagnostic testing to help determine the cause of this lesion. Most likely, they'll recommend a fine needle aspirate, which uses a needle to draw out a few cells for microscopic evaluation. Based on those findings, they'll be able to determine the best course of action, whether that may be surgical removal, medications, or just monitoring it for changes. I hope that everything goes well!

That mass could be several things. Red raised hairless masses can be benign growths such as warts, histiocytomas, reactions or infected hair follicles. They can unfortunately also be malignant grows such as Mast Cell Tumor or Plasmacytoma. I would recommend to have it checked out by the vet who may be better able to tell how concerned you should be by palpating the mass and the surrounding lymphnodes. The good news is that the majority of masses are benign but it's always better to be safe. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This looks like a typica skin wart/skin tumor or cyst. Since it has been present for so long and has not grown at all, it is probably benign (non cancerous). It looks as if the area has been irritated somehow, probably by your dog scratching at it, and is now bleeding and may be infected. Or, if it is a cyst, the white material may just be cystic exudate. I would recommend cleaning the area with some dilute hydrogen peroxide then applying some antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection and to help it heal more quickly. Occasionally these need to be removed but only if they are a constant source of irritation or infection for the dog. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a reaction to something in the environment causing mild dermatitis. I would continue to monitor it for the next 48 hours. If it does not improve or it worsens, have Jules evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If it is just mild local irritation, it is expected to resolve relatively quickly. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From your description and the picture you attached, it looks like a small benign growth on the skin. Kim's is a young dog so most likely this is a histiocytoma. However, I would err on the side of caution and have your vet conform whether it is benign or malignant. Your vet can insert a small needle into the mass and look at the cells under the microscope to get a better idea of what the mass is. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This looks like a possible bug bite based on how quickly this came about, and also the color and area that it is located. If it doesn't seem to bother Gracie, then I would recommend monitoring it for now to see if this resolves on its own within the next few days. You can apply a cold compress on the area (if needed) for 5-10 minutes to help with some of the swelling, and a very thin layer of Neosporin once every 12 hrs as needed; however, this is likely to resolve on its own as long as Gracie doesn't bother it and it doesn't spread. If the bump does appear to get worse over the next 24-48 hrs, then its best to get Gracie seen by your vet for stronger medication to get this to resolve. There is a slight chance that this is an infected pocket (abscess) that will require a short course of antibiotics and treatment to get this to heal well. I hope that everything works out well for your fur baby Gracie. Best wishes and take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Beckham. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. There is, unfortunately, an aggressive form of skin cancer known as a mast cell tumor. It appears as a red, raised and hairless mass. His veterinarian will collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This will tell you the type of mass and how best to treat it. He will likely require surgery. I hope this information helps!